Prostate Cancer Test

Prostate cancer test is an important tool in the fight against prostate cancer. In our quest to know cancer better, to understand how it affects our body and to educate others on various types of cancer, more light has been focused on prostate cancer. Though the word cancer usually tends to bring images of life threatening situation, the reality about prostate cancer is that doctors can be well in control of it with proper planning. While it's normal to be worried about prostate cancer, knowledge about it will help you decide when it is the right time for you to go for a prostate cancer test.

It's a Matter of Time

Timing is a very important aspect when dealing with prostate cancer. More men over the age of 50 get prostate cancer than any other age group. Therefore medical professionals recommend you to start going for regular prostate cancer tests after this age. Prostate cancer being a slow growing disease often put the doctors in a dilemma of whether to act to get rid of the disease as the treatment may result in a shorter life expectancy. The slowness of the prostate cancer growth can be judged from the fact that some men may have prostate cancer but it never develops enough to show any kind of symptoms or require any prostate cancer test. Hence the older the patient is the more likely it is for the doctor to avoid any treatment method. It is also the reason for men over 75 not going for prostate cancer tests as they figure they would die of other reasons before prostate cancer grows enough to threaten their life, if at all they have prostate cancer.

The Tests

The most common tests for prostate cancer detection are of two types; the Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) and the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. In digital rectal examination the doctor inserts a well lubricated gloved finger into the patient's rectum to check for any existing lumps o the prostate. For men over the age of 50 this is a part of their annual medical checkups. Though it is not a comfortable way of testing, it is very potent in identifying even the most severe and life-threatening prostate cancers.

The PSA test has a very different approach to prostate cancer identification. This prostate cancer test can identify cancers at the very early stages. This test can also identify some other problems pertaining to the prostate gland which can be dangerous for you, like the infection of the prostate. But it is also a dilemma for the doctors as some patients are over enthusiastic for a treatment of prostate cancer at even such an early stage that they do not consider the health risks which outweigh the benefits of the treatment many folds.

Prostate cancer being a slow moving disease it is advisable to consult your doctor about the various prostate cancer tests and their relevance and in case of prostate cancer detection the treatments to be taken there after.

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